Election results: High profile St. Louis area races – LINK

A Bouncer’s Trick to Spot a Fake I.D. – LINK

A single winning ticket for the $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot was sold in California – LINK

Staff at “Karen’s Diner” Aren’t Happy and Asked to Speak with Management – LINK

Aaron Carter was in and out of rehab therapy sessions up until his death but missed his last scheduled appointment last Friday night. Sources close to Melanie Martin, Aaron’s fiancée, say that she was desperately trying to get him help during their off-and-on relationship. Aaron for the most part kept her in the dark about his recent addiction struggles. Back in September, Melanie signed Aaron up for an outpatient rehab after confronting him on his addictions. Aaron got a welfare check around that time when fans got worried he was huffing compressed air off-camera that was spotted during an IG live. He agreed to go through the program in hopes it would help him regain some custody of their son, Prince. Aaron briefly stopped the program but was reinstated last week when he was supposed to have an online session Friday evening, but was a no-show. When the facility reached out to tell Melanie, she broke the tragic news to them. It’s a possibility that Aaron missed that appointment because he’d already died. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ that multiple cans of compressed air were found in his bathroom and bedroom as well as prescription pills.

Aaron Carter was working on a sitcom before he passed away (LINK) … and we’re told the production is going to honor him by moving forward, dedicating the project to his memory. Brian Farmer, writer and director of “Group,” said… Aaron and co. wrapped on the pilot episode of the show a month ago — and he’s since gotten a blessing from Aaron’s camp to complete the project and dedicate it to him. He says the show revolves around group therapy and pushes for mental health advocacy — something we’re told Aaron was eager to open up about, playing a fictionalized version of himself. Brian tells us he was a kind soul that was a true pleasure to work with — adding being a part of the show gave Aaron something positive to work toward. The pilot’s currently in post-production, and will be shopped around to networks once completed. The woman who played his love interest on the show, posted about losing her costar over the weekend … saying, ” I wish the world saw you the way I do, and saw your side of the story.”

Jennifer Lopez may be a strong, independent woman, but when she got married to Ben Affleck, she didn’t hesitate to legally take his last name. She says, quote, “I’m very much in control of my own life and destiny and feel empowered as a woman and as a person.  I can understand that people have their feelings about it, and that’s OK, too. “But if you want to know how I feel about it, I just feel like it’s romantic.  It still carries tradition and romance to me, and maybe I’m just that kind of girl.” As for how they got back together, it happened shortly after she called off her engagement to Alex Rodriguez.  Ben emailed her to tell her that a magazine had asked him for a comment about her, and he gave her a glowing one. After that, they started corresponding regularly, and soon they were making SECRET VISITS to each other’s homes.

James Cameron realizes there’s a chance that people won’t care about “Avatar: The Way of Water”.  If that happens, it’ll be too late to stop the third installment, because it’s already in the works. But it may keep him from going any further than a trilogy. He says, quote, “The market could be telling us we’re done in three months.  Or we might be semi-done, meaning: ‘Okay, let’s complete the story within movie three and not go on endlessly,’ if it’s just not profitable.” He adds, quote, “We’re in a different world now than we were when I wrote this stuff, even.  It’s the one-two punch, the pandemic and streaming.  Or, conversely, maybe we’ll remind people what going to the theater is all about.” “Avatar: The Way of Water” hits theaters on December 16th.

We already know “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is going to be a box office BEAST.  And here’s the proof you DIDN’T need:  It’s already sold $45 million in advance tickets. By Friday, advance sales could be in the $60 million to $65 million range . . . which is more than the $55 million in advance sales that the original “Black Panther” raked in. “Wakanda Forever” is expected to open with AT LEAST $175 million in the U.S., although some experts are predicting up to $200 million . . . plus anywhere from $155 million to $195 million internationally.

Thanks to the success of Netflix’s Jeffrey Dahmer series “Monster”, they’re doing two more seasons, focusing on other real-life “monstrous figures.” They’ve also ordered another season of “The Watcher”, a true story of a couple receiving terrifying letters from a stalker. These dramatizations of real-life horrors are becoming pretty controversial, and they’ve got people accusing Netflix of commercializing MURDER.  Some have even compared it to a cinematic universe like Marvel or DC. One person called it, quote, “A serial killer extended universe.” Another said Netflix is, quote, “Franchising a bunch of psychotic, misogynistic serial killers like they’re the [effing] Avengers.”

On July 5th, 2011, Casey Anthony was found not guilty of the murder of her daughter Caylee Anthony.  And she has never given an on-camera interview . . . until now. Casey will give us her side of the story in a three-part docuseries on Peacock, called “Casey Anthony: Where the Truth Lies”.  It premiers on November 29th. Peacock released a teaser that does NOT show Casey speaking.  But an off-camera interviewer asks her, quote, “Why talk to me now when you’re not getting creative control?” Much like Netflix and its new serial killer extended universe, Peacock is getting trashed online for giving Casey a platform

Justin Bieber is allegedly scared of Judge Judy Sheindlin.  At least he was back in 2014 when they were neighbors. During an interview with “Access Hollywood”, Judy said, quote, “He’s scared to death of me.  There was a period of time before he grew up when he was foolish, and doing foolish things . . . “I must have said something about it, and then I understood that he was paying the front door people to [let him know] when I was there, coming and going, so he wouldn’t have to bump into me.” She say in an interview back in 2014 with CBS that he was making a fool of himself. If you remember back then, Justin wasn’t doing too great.  He was arrested in Miami for drag racing in his Lamborghini . . . and he failed a sobriety test.

Alabama guitarist and fiddle player Jeff Cook lost his battle with Parkinson’s Disease on Monday.  He passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends at his beach house in Destin, Florida.  He was 73. The band posted a statement saying he “was a champion in all he attempted, and he courageously faced his battle with a positive attitude.” Jeff and his cousins, Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry, formed the band over 50 years ago.  They’re one of the biggest groups in country music history, selling 80 million albums and charting 33 Number One hits. Jeff was member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Musicians Hall of Fame, the Fiddlers Hall of Fame, and was a Gibson Guitarist of the Year honoree. 

Also…Dan McCafferty, the original lead vocalist of Nazareth, died yesterday.  He was 76.  He and the band peaked in 1975 with their “Hair of the Dog” album.

Elon Musk is putting his plan to charge $8 a month for verified Twitter accounts on hold . . . at least for now.  Apparently, he was worried that it could cause the spread of misinformation, potentially influencing voters ahead of the midterms. Of course, once the elections are over tonight, allowing just anyone to buy a blue checkmark can STILL lead to imposter accounts and the spread of misinformation. but that seems to be okay with Elon . . . because you’ll be able to buy a verified account starting TOMORROW.  Elon’s takeover of Twitter is causing people to bail, and Whoopi Goldberg announced (LINK) yesterday that she’s joining them.  Quote, “This place is a mess.  If it settles down enough and I feel more comfortable maybe I’ll come back.”  

Britney Spears isn’t interested in having a biopic made about her life. In an Instagram post (LINK) yesterday she said, quote, “I hear about people wanting to do movies about my life . . . dude, I’m not dead!!!” This comes after Millie Bobby Brown’s comments on Monday’s episode of “The Drew Barrymore Show” about how she wants to play Britney in a movie. She said, quote, “I think her story, first of all, resonates with me.  Just growing up in the public eye watching her videos, watching interviews of how when she was younger . .  “I see the scramble for words [in her interviews] and I don’t know her, but when I look at pictures of her, I feel like I could tell her story in the right way and hers only. 

Nikita Dragun left a swanky Miami Beach hotel in handcuffs … after cops say she was walking around the pool in the nude before dousing officers and security guards with water. The transgender influencer was arrested Monday night on a felony charge of battery on a police officer … and it sounds like she was having too good a time at The Goodtime Hotel. According to the police report, cops responded to a report of someone causing a disturbance and being extremely disorderly at the hotel. Police say when they got there, hotel security told officers Nikita had been causing a disturbance for a long period of time and walking around the pool area naked. Cops say security also told them Nikita ignored demands to stop causing the disturbance and at one point intentionally threw water on hotel staffers. Once officers arrived on scene, they say they went with security up to Nikita’s room, where they heard loud music being played. Police say Nikita opened the door after several knocks, but when security explained to Nikita she needed to cut it out or she’d be asked to leave the hotel, Nikita slammed the door in their faces. A few moments later, cops say Nikita opened the door again and asked security, “Do you want more?” Officers say Nikita then swung an open water bottle, causing water to hit and spill on both the security guard and the officer, resulting in her arrest. Nikita was booked for felony battery on a police officer, misdemeanor disorderly conduct and misdemeanor battery. She was booked at Miami-Dade County’s Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on $5,000 bond.

Looks like the gangs all back! American Idol has officially revealed the Season 21 premiere date! Starting Feb. 19, #AmericanIdol’s about to hit the jackpot on new talent!  🎤🎰 Let’s go, Season 21!! 🙌” Idol wrote on Instagram Monday alongside a photo of judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan as well as the show’s longtime host Ryan Seacrest.  Who’s ready for Season 21 of American Idol?!  The singing competition show will premiere on Sunday, February 19, 2023, on ABC.

Simon Cowell admitted he was a nightmare child because he started drinking and smoking cigarettes at only eight years old.  But his antics didn’t stop there.  In an interview with “The Sun”, he said, quote, “I once nearly burned the house down.  I was trying to prove to my brother that Father Christmas wasn’t real, so I found the costume and set fire to the beard.” Simon said he dropped the beard on a sofa and sent the whole room up in flames.  He also stole his dad’s car when he was 10 and, of course, crashed it, just like he would with his e-bikes as an adult. Oh, and he was arrested when he was 12 for pointing a pea-shooting gun at a bus driver.

Dolly Parton said that if she was inducted into this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame she would record a rock album. Now that she’s in the Hall’s Class of 2022, it looks like she’s making good on her promise and said she’s asked former Journey singer Steve Perry to sing on her rock debut. Perry confirmed the news on social media, writing that “If Dolly says it’s true, then it must be true… her voice is amazing!” The two will cover the Journey ballad “Open Arms”. She mentioned Aerosmith’s Steven Tyer when talking about working in the studio and said she’ll cover Elton John, but didn’t confirm if they’d appear on her rock album.

Back in 1978, Alice Cooper was the guest star on a now-legendary episode of “The Muppet Show”.  And as surreal as it was for audiences to watch it, it was even more surreal for Alice to film it. He says, quote, “After a while you start talking to [the puppets], and they talk back!  After three days you’re in your dressing room and Kermit pops his head in and goes, ‘Hey, you had lunch yet?’  “And I go, ‘No. You wanna go have lunch?’  He goes, ‘Yeah, OK.’  They become people. “We’re rehearsing a song, and I go, ‘Piggy, why don’t you put your head on my shoulder while we do this?  It’ll be funny if you just kind of lean over.’  ‘Oh, yeah, good idea.’  I said, ‘OK, let’s try it.'”

END OF THE YEAR MEANS END OF THE YEAR LISTS…AND UNFORTUNATELY…THIS IS ONE THAT IS NEVER FUN TO LOOK BACK ON.  BILLBOARD JUST PUT OUT ITS “GONE BY NOT FORGOTTEN” LIST OF SOME OF THE MUSICIANS THAT WE HAVE LOST IN 2022…

AARON CARTER

TAKEOFF

JERRY LEE LEWIS

LORETTA LYNN

COOLIO

PnB ROCK

OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN

JIM SEALS

MICKEY GILLEY

NAOMI JUDD

TAYLOR HAWKINS

BETTY DAVIS

IAN MACDONALD

MEATLOAF

RONNIE SPECTOR

CELEBRITIES CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY

Rapper French Montana is 38

Former MTV VJ who’s married to Nick Lachey, Vanessa Minnillo is 42.

Remember the Thong Song? Sisqó is 44.

Mr. Vanessa Minnillo and the former Mr. Jessica Simpson, Nick Lacheyis 49.

Wrestler Chris Jericho is 52

Pepa from Salt-N-Pepa is 54

The OG Incredible Hulk, Lou Ferrigno is 71.

Former Cardinal manager Whitey Herzog is 91

Fallon Sommers

Today’s birthday girl has been in 159 fine films, including:

– Boner Jams 4

– Fast Times at Deep Crack High 11

– Fresh Young Meat 7

– Hot Bods And Tail Pipe 28

– More Dirty Debutantes 249

– Ron Jeremy on the Loose 4: San Francisco

– And who can forget her role in 2003’s Young Sluts, Inc. 10

Fallon Sommers is 38 years old

The St. Louis Blues set a St. Louis Blues record with their eighth consecutive regulation loss Tuesday. A big fat 5-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Coach Berube changed up a lot before the game including every one of the forward lines. But it didn’t matter.  They can’t shoot. They can’t score. They can’t protect the net. And they can’t put passes together. It’s ugly ya’ll. But at least it’s worth some records. The Blues have been outscored 38-12 during the eight-game losing streak. Since leading Montreal 3-1 midway through the second period Oct. 29, they have been outscored 24-6. But hey they made one guys day yesterday. The opposing goalie, Felix Sandstrom who hadn’t previously won a game in his NHL career. He was 0-7-1 before Tuesday and 0-3-0 this season with a 3.78 goals-against average. He was a late replacement for Carter Hart, who was ill. Blues play tomorrow at home against the Sharks.

This may change some of your picks. The Buffalo Bills got more than a loss in the standings when they fell to the New York Jets on Sunday. We mentioned Josh Allen’s injury and here’s the update: Quarterback Josh Allen is being evaluated for an elbow injury to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and related nerves suffered on the Bills’ final drive of the game. His status is uncertain for Buffalo’s Week 10 game against the Minnesota Vikings. Allen suffered the injury in the fourth quarter when Jets defensive lineman Bryce Huff got a hit during the QB’s throwing motion, resulting in a strip sack recovered by the Bills (LINK)

There has already been two coaching changes halfway through the NFL season with Indianapolis firing Frank Reich this week four weeks after Carolina did the same to Matt Rhule. Based on recent history there likely will be more. The NFL had a record-tying 10 coaching changes last offseason and three-quarters of the teams have changed head coaches at least once in the past five years.

Ex-NFL star Domata Peko‘s father-in-law had a helluva Tuesday — it turns out his gas station sold the $2 BILLION Powerball-winning ticket … resulting in a $1 million payday!! The 37-year-old former Bengals nose tackle — who played the majority of his career in Cincinnati — shared the exciting news just now … saying, “My Father In-Law Sold the winning PowerBall (ticket) 2 billion $” “Congrats Baba.” Joe Chahayed — who owns the Joe’s Service Center gas station in Altadena, CA — turned into a local celeb after it was announced he sold the winning ticket … with folks in the area heading to his store to take selfies with him.

Joe told reporters (LINK) he’s had some winning tickets in the Super Lotto and Fantasy 5 at his location in the past — but those tickets were only worth up to $9,000.

BTW — Domata reportedly made over $47 million in contract money over the course of his career.

Joe says he’s not going to retire just yet … but his family can expect a really nice Thanksgiving.

The Giants likely will be one of the teams with their eye on Aaron Judge this offseason (LINK), but the New York Yankees likely aren’t ready to move on from the slugger just yet. In fact, the Yankees are feeling “confident” that they will sign and keep Judge once free agency begins on Thursday, the New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported Monday, citing a Yankees executive. Although New York’s hopes of keeping the American League home run king in the Bronx continue to fluctuate, the latest peak of hope appears to have come at the perfect time.

Heyman also noted that Judge’s wife Samantha was seen running the New York City Marathon on Sunday, giving the slightest bit of optimism to Yankees fans (LINK)

From both the American League and National League, 24 players and managers were shortlisted as finalists for four different awards as voted on by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. The winners for Most Valuable Player, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year and Manager of the Year will be announced next week, with one category going live each day on MLB Network beginning at 6 p.m. ET.

Monday, Nov. 14: Jackie Robinson Rookies of the Year

Tuesday, Nov. 15: Managers of the Year

Wednesday, Nov. 16: Cy Young Awards

Thursday, Nov. 17: MVP Awards

Let’s take a look at all the candidates from each league:

Who are the AL Rookie of the Year 2022 finalists?

Here are the three nominees for AL Rookie of the Year:

• Steven Kwan, LF, Cleveland Guardians
• Adley Rutschman, C, Baltimore Orioles
• Julio Rodríguez, CF, Seattle Mariners

Who are the NL Rookie of the Year 2022 finalists?

Here are the three nominees for NL Rookie of the Year:

• Brendan Donovan, UTIL,  Louis Cardinals
• Michael Harris II, CF, Atlanta Braves
• Spencer Strider, RHP, Atlanta Braves

Who are the AL Manager of the Year 2022 finalists?

Here are the three nominees for AL Manager of the Year:

• Terry Francona, Cleveland Guardians
• Brandon Hyde, Baltimore Orioles
• Scott Servais, Seattle Mariners

Who are the NL Manager of the Year 2022 finalists?

Here are the three nominees for NL Manager of the Year:

• Dave Roberts, Los Angeles Dodgers
• Buck Showalter, New York Mets
• Brian Snitker, Atlanta Braves

Who are the AL Cy Young 2022 finalists?

Here are the three nominees for AL Cy Young:

• Dylan Cease, RHP, Chicago White Sox
• Alek Manoah, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
• Justin Verlander, RHP, Houston Astros

Who are the NL Cy Young 2022 finalists?

Here are the three nominees for NL Cy Young:

• Sandy Alcantara, RHP, Miami Marlins
• Max Fried, LHP, Atlanta Braves
• Julio Urías, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

Who are the AL MVP 2022 finalists?

Here are the three nominees for AL MVP:

• Aaron Judge, OF, New York Yankees
• Shohei Ohtani, RHP/DH, Los Angeles Angels
• Yordan Alvarez, DH/LF, Houston Astros

Who are the NL MVP 2022 finalists?

Here are the three nominees for NL MVP:

• Manny Machado, 3B, San Diego Padres
• Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals
• Nolan Arenado, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals